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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 245 (Friday, December 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 104088-104089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30475]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Bay Watershed Education and Training Program National 
Evaluation System

AGENCY: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment 
preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before February 18, 2025.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments to 
Adrienne Thomas, NOAA PRA Officer, at [email protected]. Please 
reference OMB Control Number 0648-0658 in the subject line of your 
comments. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise 
sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Bronwen Rice, B-WET Program Manager, NOAA Office of Education, 1305 
E West Hwy., SSMC3 Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, 202-604-1388, and 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    This is a request for an extension of an existing information 
collection.
    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office 
of Education is sponsoring data collection efforts on its Bay Watershed 
Education and Training (B-WET) program. The NOAA B-WET program is 
authorized under 33 U.S.C. 893a(a), the America COMPETES Act. The 
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is 
authorized to conduct, develop, support, promote, and coordinate formal 
and informal educational activities at all levels to enhance public 
awareness and understanding of ocean, coastal, Great Lakes, and 
atmospheric science and stewardship by the general public and other 
coastal stakeholders, including underrepresented groups in ocean and 
atmospheric science and policy careers. B-WET advances NOAA's mission 
by awarding education grants that foster an environmentally literate 
citizenry who have the knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed to 
protect watersheds and related ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes 
ecosystems. B-WET currently funds projects in seven regions 
(California, Chesapeake Bay, Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, New 
England, and the Pacific Northwest).
    To ensure that educational activities funded by B-WET are of the 
highest quality, and efficiently utilize federal resources, B-WET has 
created an across-region, internal evaluation system to provide ongoing 
monitoring of program implementation and to identify opportunities for 
improved program outcomes. The evaluation system is maintained by B-WET 
staff with assistance from an outside contractor. The evaluation system 
collects information from B-WET program-funded project participants, 
both grant recipients and those they serve.
    B-WET awardees of grants or cooperative agreements, and the 
awardees' teachers who attend professional development programs

[[Page 104089]]

provided by the awardees, are asked to voluntarily complete online 
survey forms to provide data for the evaluation system. Information 
collected from awardees includes program elements such as program 
duration, format, audience, location, support and/or materials offered, 
and topics covered. Information collected from teacher professional 
development participants includes teaching methodologies, program 
satisfaction, program coverage, suggestions for improvement, and 
teaching confidence. Information collected from teachers at the end of 
the school year following their participation in a professional 
development program includes program elements such as time spent 
teaching topics covered in the professional development program, types 
of activities used with their students, teachers' perceptions of 
student learning, and teaching practices utilized. One individual from 
each awardee organization is asked to complete a survey once per year 
of the award, and the teacher participants are asked to complete one 
survey at the end of their professional development program and another 
survey at the end of the following school year. Responses to the survey 
questions are aggregated and analyzed as part of ongoing evaluation 
efforts.
    Based on a review of evaluation system results, B-WET has made 
program improvements by adjusting its Federal Notice of Funding 
Opportunities and program guidelines. On-going data collection enables 
NOAA to monitor program implementation and outcomes on a regular basis 
and supports adaptive management of the program.

II. Method of Collection

    Respondents submit their information electronically using a survey 
collection platform.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0648-0658.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission, extension of a current 
information collection.
    Affected Public: Business and other for-profit organizations; not-
for-profit institutions; state, local or tribal government; 
individuals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: Given historical funding levels, 
NOAA B-WET estimates that approximately 165 awardees and 3,374 teachers 
will be invited to respond each year.
    Estimated Time per Response: Awardee-respondents will complete an 
online survey in 60 minutes and teacher-respondents will complete two 
online surveys in 30 minutes each.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,539.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 in recordkeeping/
reporting costs.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: 33 U.S.C. 893a(a), the America COMPETES Act.

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy 
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden 
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request 
to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your 
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for 
Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2024-30475 Filed 12-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-12-P
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